The Death of Avicii, 6 Years Later: What Happened to the DJ and How He's Remembered Today

After a meteoric rise in the music industry, Avicii stepped away from the stage in 2016 to prioritize his mental and physical health. But just two years later, in 2018, the Swedish DJ and musician tragically died by suicide at the age of 28.

Born in Stockholm as Tim Bergling, Avicii began releasing electronic dance music in 2008. Within three years, he had risen to international fame — earning a Grammy nomination in 2012 for his collaboration on the David Guetta track “Sunshine” and another in 2013 for his iconic club hit “Levels.” Avicii continued to produce chart-topping hits — like his 2013 single “Wake Me Up,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 100 — and work at an exhausting pace, embarking on three global tours in the span of three years.

Despite his success, the demands of Avicii’s career took a toll on his well-being: The hitmaker had a series of health problems over the years, including a bout with acute pancreatitis and surgery to have his gallbladder and appendix removed. He also struggled with anxiety and used alcohol to cope, according to a 2013 interview with GQ. In March 2016, Avicii hit a breaking point — and decided to retire from touring to focus on creating music and repairing his health.

“I’m tired, really tired,” he told PEOPLE in 2013. “I’ve been at it since I was 17, 18 years old ... touring pretty much nonstop, 300 shows a year. It’s been very hectic ... I need a break.”

But in the midst of Avicii’s much-needed break, tragedy struck. While vacationing in Oman in April 2018, the superstar DJ died by suicide at just 28 years old — leaving his family, friends and fans around the world devastated.

Now, a new pair of documentaries from Netflix will provide fans a never-before-seen glimpse into the life and death of Avicii — as well as the last show the superstar DJ ever performed, at Ibiza’s Ushuaïa in August 2016. Titled Avicii: I’m Tim and Avicii: My Last Show, the two documentaries began streaming globally on Dec. 31.

Here’s a closer look at the end of Avicii’s life, from his shocking death to the powerful legacy he left behind.

How did Avicii die?

Following the news of Avicii's death, a statement written by his family implied that the Swedish musician and DJ had died by suicide.

The family’s letter, which was written in Swedish and obtained by PEOPLE, called Avicii a “fragile artistic soul” and an “overachieving perfectionist” who suffered from “extreme stress.”

“When he stopped touring, he wanted to find a balance in life to be happy and be able to do what he loved most — music,” the statement continued. “He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace.”

Prior to the release of the letter, local authorities were able to rule out foul play. This led many to assume that the Swedish DJ’s previous health struggles — including acute pancreatitis, gallbladder and appendix surgery, alcohol abuse and exhaustion — were to blame. Avicii’s rep provided an initial statement that only confirmed the loss of the popular musician.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii,” his rep shared at the time. “The family is devastated and we ask everyone to please respect their need for privacy in this difficult time. No further statements will be given.”

Related: How to Recognize When a Loved One May Be Considering Suicide, and the Best Ways to Help

When did Avicii die?

Avicii was found dead in the afternoon hours of April 20, 2018, according to a statement from his rep.

His tragic death came two years after he announced his retirement from touring in March 2016. The announcement shocked his fans, but Avicii felt the move was necessary to protect his physical and mental well-being, according to a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

“To me it was something I had to do for my health,” the Swedish artist said about his decision to stop touring. “The scene was not for me. It was not the shows and not the music. It was always the other stuff surrounding it that never came naturally to me. All the other parts of being an artist. I’m more of an introverted person in general. It was always very hard for me. I took on board too much negative energy, I think.”

Where did Avicii die?

Avicii died in Muscat, Oman, where he had been vacationing prior to his death by suicide.

He arrived in the country on April 8 to visit with friends in the country’s royal family, Rolling Stone reported. During his vacation, he stayed at the Muscat Hills Resort, where he “seemed to be in good spirits,” according to a statement from the hotel. During his stay, Avicii went kite-surfing, sailed with friends and posed for photos with fans. A local DJ, Matrai Joshi, was spinning at the resort and recalled meeting the global star.

“He told me he liked Oman so much that he would extend his journey and stay for a few days extra,” Joshi reportedly told the Swedish news site Expressen.

Prior to his trip, Avicii had been working on new music with singer-songwriter Joe Janiak at his home studio in Los Angeles. They spent weeks writing a batch of new songs, working until the day before Avicii left for Oman. According to Janiak’s account, Avicii promised to reach out upon his return.

“He was trying to take charge of his life,” Janiak told Rolling Stone. “He seemed pumped. That’s the shocking thing. He didn’t seem like a guy at the end of his days.”

Avicii’s own father, Klas Bergling, didn’t believe that his son traveled to Oman with the intention of killing himself.

“Our theory is not that he planned this suicide — more that it was like a traffic accident,” Bergling told CNN in a 2019 interview. “Many things happened and came into the same station, so to say, and brought him out of his control.”

He continued, “Small things can make you sad or move your balance and I think this is what happened.”

How old was Avicii when he died?

When he died, Avicii was only 28 years old. However, according to those closest to him, the demands of his DJ career and being a celebrity aged him “significantly. "

“2015 was the last time I saw him face to face, and I remember there wasn’t much Tim left,” DJ Laidback Luke, who mentored Avicii, told PEOPLE after his death. “Tim looked to me kind of like a zombie. He had aged significantly. When I saw him perform, it was as if he wasn’t in touch with life anymore.”

What were Avicii’s last words?

In the final years of his life, Avicii kept a series of journal entries that shed light on the DJ’s inner demons and health struggles. Excerpts from his journal, as well as interviews with his parents, friends and colleagues, were included in Måns Mosesson’s 2021 book Tim —The Official Biography of Avicii.

The journal entries covered everything from his difficulty in stopping drinking to his recovery from acute pancreatitis and his time reportedly spent at the Ibiza Calm rehab center in 2015. Avicii also wrote about his newfound meditation practice inspired by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and how he would often meditate for hours at a time — much longer than the recommended 20 minutes.

Avicii’s final journal entry, which he penned the day before he died by suicide, reportedly read: “The shedding of the soul is the last attachment, before it restarts!”

What was the public reaction to Avicii’s death?

The music community was left in mourning after the devastating news of Avicii’s death. In the hours and days that followed, there was an outpouring of sorrow and tributes from musicians and producers, such as Calvin Harris, Zedd, Tiësto, Charlie Puth and Madonna.

“Devastating news about Avicii, a beautiful soul, passionate and extremely talented with so much more to do. My heart goes out to his family. God bless you Tim x,” Harris wrote X (formerly Twitter), while Puth's read, “Wow, I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to the man who really opened my eyes as to what my productions could one day sound like. @Avicii was a genius and a music innovator, and I can not believe he is no longer with us. RIP to the very best.”

Avicii’s death was also mourned on stage at Coachella, as the second weekend of the music festival had kicked off just hours after he died. Fellow DJ Kygo took the main stage on the night of April 20 and ended his set with an emotional tribute to the late star and his “favorite” Avicii song, the 2017 hit “Without You.”

“Coachella, I think most of you guys have heard but today is a very sad day for music,” Kygo said to the crowds. “Earlier today I got the news that Avicii passed away at only 28 years old. Avicii was my biggest musical inspiration and he was the reason I started making electronic music so I don’t think I would’ve been on this stage tonight if it wasn’t for him. I know he’s inspired millions of other producers out there.”

He added, “In honor of Avicii I want you to dance and sing along and let’s celebrate the life of a true musical genius.”

Was Avicii in a relationship when he died?

Avicii was dating Czech model Tereza Kačerová at the time of his death, though the two kept their relationship out of the spotlight.

After his suicide, however, Kačerová offered the world a peek into their private relationship when she posted several emotional tributes to the late DJ on her Instagram page. One of the posts shared a montage of photos of Avicii, Kačerová and her young son Luka — and revealed that the couple had discussed being a family and even picked out names for future children.

“The brightest stars burn out the fastest,” Kačerová captioned the photo series.

In a follow-up post, Kačerová penned a heartfelt letter to Avicii where she opened up more about their relationship and her devastating loss.

“Dear Tim, I’ve spent the last days waiting to wake up, waiting for someone to tell me that this is some sick joke, some awful mistake. I think it’s finally settling on me now that I will truly never get to see you again,” Kačerová began.

She continued, “When I saw they had changed your bio on Wikipedia from ‘is' to ‘was’, I sobbed. I’d stare at it for minutes at a time, trying to decipher why it says that you died on April 20, 2018. It didn’t make any sense. You are too young and wonderful and I love you too much for you to have that written by your name.”

Kačerová concluded her heartbreaking letter with a reference to Thomas Edison’s last words.

“I read that before he died, Thomas Edison came out of a coma, looked upwards and said 'it is very beautiful up there,’ ” the model wrote. “Take comfort in that. REST IN PEACE, TIN. Try to come back to Earth soon so that you and Luka can play together again. Love, Tereza.”

What legacy did Avicii leave behind?

Avicii’s memory lives on in both the music and mental health communities — and where the two intersect.

Avicii is considered a pioneer in electronic dance music (EDM). He bridged the gap between EDM and other more mainstream genres, like pop and country, and influenced a future generation of DJs — including Kygo, who referred to the late producer as his “biggest musical inspiration.” Avicii’s hit song “Levels” was even named a song that defined the 2010s decade by Billboard, cementing his influence on the music industry.

“Avicii has quite rightly been celebrated as one of the greatest DJs of all time and as an important artist who made massively successful records,” Nile Rodgers, one of Avicii's collaborators, said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “He was a melodic beast who has not as yet had the recognition he deserves for his extraordinary talent.”

Avicii’s influence on the music industry was also celebrated with the opening of the Avicii Experience Tribute Museum in Stockholm in February 2022. The tribute museum features memorabilia, video footage and photos of Avicii — as well as previously unreleased music, including an early version of the hit “Levels.”

Not only does the museum help bring fans closer to the late DJ, but a portion of its revenue also goes towards the Tim Bergling Foundation, which was founded by Avicii’s family in 2019 after his death. According to its website, the foundation aims to continue Avicii’s philanthropic endeavors, including his charitable organization House of Hunger, while also advocating for “the recognition of suicide as a global health crisis. "

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Read the original article on People